“I AM BATMAN…”

Have you ever uttered those words or heard someone else who has? When I was a kid, it was cool to be a superhero. But as I got older, there was a transition where that was considered childish and no longer accepted by peers. Kids that wanted to maintain their fantasy lives were ridiculed and criticized for their love of comics and superheroes, and were often called… weirdo’s or nerds.

The social outcasts or the shunned would huddle together at the comic book store with a group of friends that have the same obsession and were just as excited as they were. There, they found their Tribe and they were content to spend their time with others who were as quirky as they were.

That all changed in 1989 when a stellar cast of stars and an incredible display of fantastic gadgets, made liking Batman, even as an adult, cool again. The Batman movie gave our inner geek an opportunity to rise to the surface again. Michael Keaton Owned that character. Rich, handsome, quirky guy, defeats bad guys, gets the girl… and the toys! Oh did he have the toys! From the ultra cool Batmobile to the unbelievable utility belt… Batman made being quirky, cool again. (Let’s face it, wearing a Bat Costume definitely ranks up there on the Quirky Scale!) Now, the kids who had been considered nerdy in the past became the resident experts on the subject. It was no longer weird to like superheroes… it was cool.

On Tuesday we celebrated #AutisticPrideDay, and I want to help you understand another group of people that are called quirky… My son has Asperger’s Syndrome, which means he is a high functioning individual on the Autism Spectrum. Aspie’s, as they are called and refer to themselves, process information differently and often have a challenge communicating clearly. Many of them also have very specific things they like to do, which may not follow the mainstream or the “status quo”. I personally think it’s awesome that they have their own unique personalities, but their young peers are usually less likely to treat them that way. (If you are the parent of a child with Asperger’s please feel free to join my brand new Facebook Group to provide Love and Support to the families.)

When my son would feel discouraged because he was “different”, I would always remind him that he was quirky… and #QuirkyIsCool. It became my mantra with him and something I started using in my consulting practice with entrepreneurs. I realized that just like neurotypical teenagers, entrepreneurs were often trying to “fit” into what they thought other people wanted. I encouraged them to be daring enough to Own it, and build a business based on their creative ideas, instead of conforming to what they thought they were supposed to be.

I shared with my clients the same message I gave to my son. To make a difference in the world, you need to Step Up and Stand Out. I told him that blending in to be like everyone else was boring and inauthentic, and that being himself would help him find a Tribe of people that appreciated him for who he was, quirks and all. Living a joyful life requires accepting yourself for who you are and then inviting others to join you; not conforming to what you think they want you to be.

Entrepreneurs need to do the same thing… find customers that want the amazing things they have to offer, instead of a different version of what everyone else has available. If you want to be a brand that people respect and remember, then help people remember it with your personality and style. There are a lot of unique or interesting products that people mocked and scoffed at when they first heard about them, and yet some of them went on to make those people multi-millionaires. (Can you say Pet Rock?)

The world is hungry for interesting and unique people, products and brands. Most people are tired of being marketed to the same way by the same people. It is so common that instead of brand loyalty, people see an item and hunt online for the cheapest place to get it. When you set yourself apart, you can get a higher price point and a loyal following, especially when you connect it to a good cause.

The #12Books12Months project is connected to our #YouAreEnough global initiative which is an anti-bullying, self-esteem building program to help the people recognize and embrace the concept…

#YouAreEnough…
just the way you are!

It started with book #2 in the series Evict the Bully in Your Head and continues on with the pseudo-sequel book #8, Own It! How to Step Up and Stand Out: (#QuirkyIsCool, Normal is so…Yesterday).   This book officially launches on July 12 @ 12:12pm on our monthly book launch livestream but you can pre-order a copy here. My mission is to deliver the #YouAreEnough campaign in corporations, schools, hospitals, organizations, churches and prisons. Providing Hope to those who are struggling and encouraging the world to recognize their internal value. We share how to Evict the Bully in Your Head and replace them with the Headspace Heroes. I hope you will join us on our superhero crusade! So now you know how to be a modern day superhero and I’ve got a #QuirkyLittleSecret for you:

The secret of being successful in business… be like BATMAN.

Until next week…

Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it – Vicki